The Nation Newspaper

Tag: EFCC

  • Yakubu didn’t declare $9.7m, £74,000 found in his house – EFCC

    A Federal High Court in Abuja heard on Thursday that former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, did not declare the $9,772,800 and £74,000 recovered from his Kaduna home by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Officials of the Kano Zonal office of the EFCC had last year reported that they recovered the money from a house located at Sabo-Tasha area of Kaduna State.

    Testifying at the resumed hearing in Yakubu’s trial, a detective with the EFCC, Sambo Muazu, told the court that he took statement from the defendant, following which he (Yakubu) filled an EFCC assets declaration form.

    Muazu, led in evidence by lead prosecution lawyer, Ben Ikani, said the ex-NNPC chief did not declare the recovered money among the assets he declared in the assets declaration form.

    The witness also told the court why EFCC investigated some contracts signed while Yakubu was the GMD of NNPC.

    Muazu said: “In 2015, we commenced investigation into two categories of contracts which were awarded by NNPC and its subsidiaries.

    “The first category relates to Strategic Alliance Agreement (SAA) between NNPC’s subsidiary, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited (AEDCL). The contract was signed between NPDC and AEDCL.

    “The first SAA was on Oil Mining Lease (OML) 26, 30, 34, 40 and 42. The second SAA was on OML 60, 61, 62, and 63.

    “The investigation was sequel to intelligence report received by the EFCC relating to suspicious fund transfers from AEDCL’s account in Nigeria to a sister company called Atlantic Energy Holdings (AEH)

    “Also, additional transfers from Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited (AEBDL) to the same Atlantic Energy Holdings. The AHL’s accounts are based in Switzerland.

    “There were also transfers from Atlantic Energy Holdings account in Switzerland to the Nigerian accounts of the two sister companies – AEDCL and AEBDL.

    “It was on the basis of these suspicious transactions that we commenced investigation.

    “In the course of investigation, it became necessary to seek clarification from Engr. Andrew Yakubu. He was accordingly invited, and we interacted with him. And thereafter, we reduced the interaction into writing.

    “The two SAA were executed between the end of 2011 to 2014 April, during which Engr. Andrew Yakubu was the Group Managing Director of NNPC. He was in office from June 2012 to August 2014.

    “After our interaction and his statement recorded, he declared his assets sometime between July and August 2015.

    “The EFCC has a standard assets declaration form. A copy of that form was given to Engr. Andrew Yakubu. He filled the form, declaring his assets.

    “He was asked to declare his assets based on the allegations that the company Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept was allowed to lift crude oil worth over $1billion without fulfilling the necessary obligations on their path.

    “It was on this basis that investigation was conducted and thereafter, some individuals were charged to court.”

     

  • PDP demands Sen. Jang’s release from EFCC custody

    The Plateau Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the “immediate release” of former Plateau governor Jonah Jang from Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody.

    Jang, who represents Plateau North in the senate, was invited by the EFCC on Monday over alleged misappropriation of some monies when he governed the north-central state between 2007 and 2015.

    The senator had, since then, been in the custody of the anti-graft agency.

    Chief Damishi Sango, the PDP Chairman in Plateau, who addressed a press conference on Jang’s detention, described it as “unconstitutional”.

    Sango argued that the refusal of the commission to grant bail to the elder statesman was “a gross violation of his fundamental human rights”.

    “We consider the continued detention of Sen. Jang by the EFCC as unconstitutional, unlawful and gross violation of his fundamental human rights.

    “It is very shocking and unbelievable that a sitting senator and elder statesman is being denied bail, access to his lawyers, family and even his medication. This is quite unfortunate

    “We have appealed to party supporters and family members to remain calm and shall continue to ensure that they remain so, but we want the EFCC to, as a matter of urgency, release Sen Jang,” Sango stated.

    The chairman alleged that Jang’s continued detention was “part of an orchestrated plan to clamp down on the opposition”, saying that Jang was entitled to bail on self recognition since he was a serving senator.

    “Jang is a former governor and a serving senator; there is no way he will jump bail,” he said.

    Sango, however, said that the PDP would continue to serve as a viable opposition and ensure a voice for the voiceless “no matter what happens”.

  • EFCC gets fresh order to seize Patience Jonathan’s N7.3b, $8.4m 

    he Federal High Court in Lagos Division has ordered a temporary forfeiture of N7.3billion and $8.4million allegedly belonging to former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan.
    Justice Mojisola Olateregun made the order based on a fresh application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
    A copy of the order made on April 20 was obtained yesterday.
    The judge had on April 13 struck out an ex-parte application seeking the money’s forfeiture on the basis that a similar suit was pending in another court.
    However, EFCC returned with another ex-parte application for temporary forfeiture.
    The money is said to be in Skye Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank and First Bank Plc.
    Justice Olatoregun directed EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper within 14 days, adding that the respondents should be served.
    Mrs Jonathan, Esther Oba, Globus Integrated Services Limited, Finchley Top Homes Limited, AM-PM Global Network Limited, Pagmat Oil and Gas Limited and Magel Resort Limited are the respondents.
    In a supporting affidavit, an EFCC investigator Huleji Tukura said the money was allegedly moved from Bayelsa State when Mrs Jonathan was a permanent secretary.
    He said Mrs. Jonathan first opened a First Bank account and then “procured” former Senior Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, to fund the account with “proceeds of unlawful activities.”
    “The said Dudafa Waripamo-Owei procured one Festus Isidohomen Iyoha and Arivi Eneji Peter, who were domestic staff attached to the State House, Abuja, to deposit the funds, reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, in to account of the first respondent.
    “The said domestic staff, in a bid to conceal their identity, deposited the funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful act using fictitious names.
    “The total sum of $4,036,750.00 reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities were deposited into account No. 2022648664 domiciled in First Bank Plc in the name of the first respondent.
    “On the 28th day of September, 2016, the first respondent, in dissipating the property sought to be forfeited, transferred the sum of $3,640,794.72 to the first respondent’s account No. 2031277178 domiciled in First Bank Plc.
    “On the 5th day of October, 2016, the first respondent withdrew the sum of $1,000,000.00 cash from the said account leaving the balance of the sum of $3,645,013.73…
    “As at the time the various sums were deposited, the first respondent was a serving permanent secretary in the employment of the Bayelsa State Government.
    “The funds sought to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria are not the first respondent’s lawful earnings but are rather reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities,” the deponent said.
    Tukura said the companies were not into “any legitimate income-yielding business venture” but were incorporated for the purpose of warehousing proceeds of unlawful activities for the former First Lady.
    “The depositors into this account are domestic staff of State House, Abuja, who was procured by the said Dudafa Waripamo-Owei to deposit the funds sought to be forfeited in a bid to conceal the true origin of the funds,” Tukura said.
    EFCC said none of the directors of Globus Integrated Services Ltd, for instance, we’re signatories its account.
    The commission said an account numbered 2110002269 was opened with Skye Bank and others with Diamond Bank Plc and Stanbic IBTC solely to retain funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
    “Account No. 0016971559 was opened in the name of the fourth respondent (AM-PM Global Network Limited) with Stanbic IBTC and was used to warehouse N317, 397, 458 .26 reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities,” the deponent said.
    Justice Olatoregun adjourned until May 11.

  • Saraki, Magu meet at EFCC’s N24b office complex in Abuja

    Senate President Bukola Saraki met face to face with Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu in Abuja.

    It was at the N24billion newly completed office complex of the anti-graft agency which Saraki inspected for about 40 minutes.

    The handshake between the two men elicited thunderous applause from dignitaries, EFCC and construction giant Julius Berger Plc officlas on hand so much so that the Senate President allowed the plea of those who missed the photgraph, for another round of snapshots.

    There is no love lost between the two men. The Senate has twice refused to clear Magu to become the substantive chairman of the EFCC.

    This is in spite of the push by the Presidency whose insistence, has now made the Senate to abandon the clearance of many officials whose nominations are pending.

    The Senate President is also facing trial over alleged false assets declaration.

    But yesterday, Saraki said the war against corruption is not personal, adding that it should be everybody’s business.

    He said: “If we are going to build a better society in our country, one of the main things we must tackle is the issue of corruption and how we can do that is by strengthening these institutions.

    “My presence here is to say that whatever we do in our job, the most important thing is that we all represent institutions and we must work and see that it is in the interest of the country.

    “So my presence here is, after a building like this where the National Assembly has played a great role, it must be my responsibility to see how the money was spent and I can see that that has been done properly and we should continue to work together to see that goes well for the entire country.

    “I think we have all said it. It is something we must fight. There is no way you can build a society without fighting corruption.

    “I have always said that my own strong will is that as we fight it, we must fight it in ensuring that we strengthen the institutions and what you see here is part of the process of strengthening those institutions so that whoever comes here will know that this is what we must fight if we want to build institutions.

    “I think it (project) has gone through about three executive chairmen and one did not come in to say this is not my project and I must not continue. Each one has taken it as his own project.  I think that is good and that is the whole point that is important and this is something we will be proud of for many years.

    “In many years to come, I hope that we don’t have corruption in an environment like this but for now, I think there are many good aspects of this. Having a Nigerian that designed this, the details are very impressive-  the clinic  and all the facilities- and the fact that it has gone through three different administration and the fact that the National Assembly has played its role and brought it to completion, I think that it is a lot of plus.”

     

     

     

     

  • Alleged N6.3b fraud: EFCC serves Jang trial notice on 12 charges

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday served a former Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang a trial notice on 12 charges, bordering on alleged misappropriation of over N6.3 billion.

    The cash was allegedly embezzled about two months to the end of his tenure as governor in 2015. But no date has been fixed for his arraignment.

    Jang, a serving senator, allegedly embezzled some special funds released to the state by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

    A fact-sheet, obtained by The Nation, said in part: “In one of the counts, the former governor, among other things, allegedly pocketed N2 billion released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for disbursement to small and medium enterprises in the state under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Funds (MSMEDF) just a month before the expiration of his tenure in April 2015.

    “Jang was also said to have abused his office as the governor by collecting money to the tune of N4.3 billion from the state coffers through the cashier of the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Yusuf Gyang Pam.

    Pam, who is also charged along with Jang, was said to have corruptly used his office for personal enrichment to the tune of N11.5 million.

    “The charge has been served on the former governor on Monday but no date has been fixed yet for arraignment.”

    It was not immediately clear if Jang will face a separate trial over the ongoing probe by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

    ICPC is investigating Jang for alleged N5.6 billion fraud while in office.

    The ICPC fact-sheet added:  “Evidence before the commission so far indicates that Senator Jang allegedly committed the offences in March 2015.

    “He allegedly received N2 billion in cash illegally out of the money which was allocated to micro, small and medium enterprises, under the pretext of a loan to be spent on ‘classified expenditure’.

    “Jang again allegedly received N400 million illegally of funds meant for Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

    “He also allegedly caused a former commissioner of finance in the state to illegally transfer the sum of N3.2 billion of SUBEB funds to the project account of the Ministry of Finance.”

  • Army hands over seized tugboat, barge to EFCC

    The Nigerian Army on Thursday handed over a tugboat and a barge allegedly seized from oil thieves, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Delta State.

    Spokesman of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.

    However, he did not say whether the suspects were arrested or not.

    Uwujaren said the tugboat (MV Omar Success) and the barge (EBIs 1) were allegedly being used for illegal oil bunkering when they were seized.

    According to him, the Sector 1, Operation Delta Safe of the Army intercepted the vessels at a creek in Abadiama community of Burutu local government area of the state following a tip off.

    “Speaking at the event, Major Y. J. Yunusa, who represented the Commander, said the tugboat and barge were intercepted on February 1, 2018 while trans loading suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil.

    “Richard Ogberagha, an EFCC operative, who received the exhibits on behalf of the Benin Zonal Head of the Commission, Milafia Yakubu, said the EFCC would do a painstaking investigation and ensure that those involved were brought to book,” Uwujaren said.

    NAN

  • EFCC traces 61 assets to ex-bank MD in Dubai

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC) has traced 61 assets  to former Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Oceanic Bank Mrs. Cecilia Ibru in Dubai in its ongoing tracking of looted funds.

    The assets include 41 shops, 16 mansions and four park towers.

    All the properties have been confiscated, but their sale is trailed by controversy because about $4,522,413.20 remain unaccounted for in the last seven years.

    Out of the over $7million purportedly realised from the disposal of the properties, the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria( AMCON) only received $3,278,238.69 from the proceeds.

    The controversy over the sales led to the EFCC’s interrogation of four AMCON officials and former head of the transactions, who is now with a bank.

    More bankers have been invited for questioning over how the proceeds were wired from Dubai into some individual and companies’ accounts in Nigeria.

    But the EFCC may watch-list a United Kingdom (UK) -based lawyer, who was engaged in June 2011  by AMCON to dispose the assets.

    According to a fact-sheet obtained by our correspondent, the details of the assets seized from Mrs. Ibru emerged after a crack team of EFCC detectives visited Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to uncover alleged looted funds and assets bought with crime proceeds.

    Apart from identifying the properties of many politically exposed persons (PEPs), the list of Mrs. Ibru’s assets and their alleged questionable disposal were highlights of the EFCC team’s focus.

    Justice Daniel Abutu of the  Federal High Court in  Lagos on October 9, 2010 sentenced Mrs. Ibru  to 18 months imprisonment.

    He ordered her to forfeit N191billion worth of assets to the Federal Government through AMCON.

    The assets to forfeit include properties in Nigeria, United States of America, and Dubai.

    She was also ordered to forfeit  shares in over 100 firms both listed and unlisted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

    The fact sheet gave details of the assets traced to Mrs. Ibru , who spent six months in prison in Dubai.

    The fact-sheet said in part:  “About 61 assets were traced to Mrs. Ibru in Dubai ( UAE). And from the information from AMCON, 41 of the assets were shops, 16 were other types of houses/mansions and four park towers. Some of the towers (A2005, A2008,A 2203) have been linked with two persons.

    “While one of the park towers was  paid for, three others had not been fully paid for but they have been de registered. Due to non-payment of full purchase price, a Dubai firm, DAMAC, has refused to refund the deposits.

    “A registered Nigerian company with one banker as alter ego,  was engaged by AMCON in  June 2011 to provide legal services for the sale of the assets.

    “A UK-based lawyer was given the power of attorney which was notarised in Dubai.

    “Findings indicated that the attorney engaged allegedly received over $7million but about $4,522,413.20 remained unaccounted for.

    “The EFCC detectives  discovered that AMCON  only received $3,278,238.69 from the proceeds of the sale of the assets.”

    The anti-graft agency said: “Investigation showed that some of the proceeds of the sales were wired from Dubai into the accounts of some individuals and companies.

    “The EFCC team has interacted with four officials of AMCON including a former staff,  the ex-Head of the transactions, who is now with a bank.

    “More officials of some banks have been invited to come and give us information on third party accounts where the proceeds were deposited.”

    The EFCC said it had been trying to prevail on Williams to account for the sale of the 61 properties.

    The fact-sheet indicated that “the banker was contacted via his Nigerian mobile line but he refused to honour the invitation. An invitation letter was served on his office but he has not responded.

  • Court orders final forfeiture of naval officers’ property, cash

    Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday ordered the permanent forfeiture of Lekki houses belonging to two naval officers.

    Captains Olotu Morakinyo and Ebony Aneke were ordered to forfeit the houses to the Federal Government.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that the property was acquired illegally.

    The naval officers were attached to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) as Guard Commanders.

    They allegedly acquired a three-bedroom terrace duplex at Lekki Gardens Phase 4, Lekki-Ajah, and a five-bedroom duplex in Lekki with proceeds of fraud.

    The court also ordered the forfeiture of N11,040,000 found in the bank account of Lakewood Garden Ventures Limited, said to be linked to Aneke and his sister, Jimmie.

    Morakinyo served as NIMASA Maritime Guard Commander from January to September 2013, while Aneke served in the same capacity from September 2013 to December 2014.

    Lakewood Garden Ventures is jointly owned by Aneke and his sister.

    Justice Hassan had on March 28, ordered the interim forfeiture of the property and the money.

    He directed EFCC to publish the interim order in The Nation Newspaper so that anyone interested in the property could appear to show cause within 14 days why it should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.

    Justice Hassan held on Thursday that EFCC’s claim that the properties were proceeds of crime was not controverted.

     

  • EFCC arrests man posing as Magu

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it has arrested one Felix Idowu for allegedly impersonating its Acting Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu.

    In a statement, Spokesman of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said the suspect was a real estate agent and graduate of Political Science.

    Uwujaren said Idowu was found with documents which had the forged signature of the EFCC boss, and would be charged to court as soon as investigation was concluded.

    “Prior to his arrest, the EFCC received intelligence report that the suspect, while posing as operative of the EFCC, requested for money in order ‘to kill’ a petition purportedly written against the complainant.

    “The EFCC swung into action by asking the complainant to play along. In the process, Idowu was asked to liaise with the complainant’s personal assistant, who was an EFCC undercover agent.

    “While interacting with the undercover agent, the suspect was lured to a popular supermarket in Wuse 2, Abuja, where he was arrested on Monday, April 30.

    “Upon search of his Lexus EX 350 car, a lot of documents were recovered including letter of investigation activities on a fake EFCC letter-head paper with ‘Ref No: CTGI/6/vol.1’.

    “Also found was a letter of petition written to EFCC with ‘EFCC stamp received’ bearing Magu’s forged signature,’’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that impersonation of Magu and other officials of the EFCC by fraudsters has been a source of worry to the commission.

    The commission has issued several alerts in recent times to warn members of the public against fraudsters using Magu’s name for extortion.

    The latest arrest came barely two years after the commission apprehended three suspects for a similar offence in August 9, 2016.

    On September 16, 2016, a High Court sitting in Gombe sentenced one Muhammad Adamu to 14 years in prison for posing as an EFCC operative to extort the state’s Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board.

     

     

  • Nwaoboshi: EFCC humiliated me

    The embattled Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (Delta North) yesterday told the Senate that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) humiliated him while holding him custody over an alleged N322 million fraud.

    Nwaoboshi, who resumed plenary, assured his colleagues he would not yield to intimidation, especially when he did nothing to warrant the humiliation he was subjected to.

    He said: “I rise to thank the Senate for standing behind me during my ordeal in the hands of the EFCC; for its concern for my well-being.

    “As a lawyer, I am conscious of the fact that my matter is now in court. I am no longer at liberty to say anything that will impede judicious trial of the case. However, I assure my colleagues that I have not done anything that will justify or that necessitated the humiliation I was subject to as a serving senator.

    “This roll back to the dark days of the military rule must not be allowed to hold sway under a democratic dispensation. This senate must challenge the forces and agents of oppression.

    “I assure this eighth senate that I refuse to be cowed or intimidated by anyone. I am confident that I will have my day in court and justice will prevail. Once more thank you for believing in me and standing by me.”